Eldridge j



E. J. SMITH.

(No Model.)

CHAIR.

No. 540,699. Patented June 11, 1895.

NITED STATES ELDRIDGE J. SMITH, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

CHAIR.

SEECIFI CATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 540,699, dated June11-, 1895. Application filed May 8, 1894:. Serial No- 510,523. (Nomodel.)

To all whom it may concern: I

Be it known that I, ELDRIDGE J. SMITH, a citizen of the United States,residing at Washington, in the District of Columbia, have inventedcertain new and useful Improvements in Chairs; and I do declare thefollowing to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention,such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains tomake and use the same. My invention relates to an improvement in chairsor settees so constructed that they may be used singly, in pairs, or,any desired number of seats can be fastened together by a simple method,and the chairs so interlocked in seating a hall or opera house caneasily be placed in a circle at whatever radius that may be desired.

The construction of the fabric forming'the seat and back of my improvedchair is, in some respects, similar to what is claimed in the severalpatents for chairs that have already been allowed me, but there are someimportant improvements that are novel and important in the constructionof my improved chair as will appear in,the following drawings andspecification.

An important and valuable factor of my invention is the cheapness andease with which the chair can be constructed, at the same time combininggraceful and attractive appearance and stability. It will be observedthat the framework and the standards or legs of the chair are allstraight lines, thereby lessening the liability of breakage from crossgrain woods and saving in lumber and milling.

In Figure 1 of the drawings a side elevation of the chair isrepresented. Fig. 2 is a front view. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of ametallic base forming the feet of a chair. Fig. 4. is a metallic castingdesigned to aid in forming ahinge for the chair-seat. Fig. 5 is aconnecting-wire securing the seatand legs of the chair. Fig. 6 is ametallic arm attachment, with the dotted lines showing the arms of thechair secured thereto. Fig. 7 is a section of a seat-slat and a portionof a securing-wire and showing the position of the metallic U- shapedclip, the function of which isto separate the slats forming the seat andback of a chair.

Referring to the drawings, Fig. 1 represents front end of the metallicpiece B is secured to the chair seat by a screw at E. The pintle D fitsinto the standard F thus providing a very easy and strong device tosupport the seatof the chair, and so arranged that it can be easilytilted upward.

G is an ear-on the underside of the metallic hinge plate B with aperforation to receive one end of the connecting wire H, shown in Fig.5, and the other end of the said wire is secured to the brace I.

The metallic base of the chair is plainly shown in Fig. 3. v

The standard F or legs of the chair are secured to the base in thefollowing manner,

namely: A bolt at. L, in Fig. 2, passes through the slot in the base anddraws the standard closely between the lips M of the metallic base,shown in Fig. 3, and at the same time interlocks the chairs together.These lips M are inclined to correspond with the position of thestandards F or legs of the chair so that the pressure from the'bolts Lhold the legs or standards firmly between them as can be readily seen.On the rear side of the metallic base are .the brackets N to which therail 0 is attached.

This rail is useful as a foot rest as well as an additional brace forthe metallic base of the chairs. The metallic bases K can be made with asufficient spread so as to render it unnecessary to fasten them to thefloor; or if made narrow, perforations can be made in their feet so asto use screws to fasten to the fioor.

In Fig. 6 the lugs or pintles P project from the top of an L-shapedmetallic piece R to which the arm A is secured and are made to fit intosockets bored in the sides of the standards F and are so held securely.The arm can be tilted upward easily and when in its normal position isheld in place by the shoulders of the arm resting upon the standard.

Fig. .7 represents a section of a chair slat and supporting wire T withmetallic clip U,

slat S. 0n the lower side of the clip, a lip V t extends outwardly atright angles so as to fit snugly to the under side of the slat S, thuskeeping it in place and preventing it from,

turning.

It will be noted that the metallic castings employed in constructingchairs according to 1 my invention, are each made, preferably, so as tobe used in duplicate, that is, one casting being employed and serving asa support for two chair standards, as in the case of the metallic basebracket, as shown in detail in Fig. 3, and in use in Fig. 2, where it isplaced between the two standards F of two separate chairs. It'will beseen that in constructing the base in this manner, it is provided uponeach side with laterally projecting lips M that slightly inclose thestandards.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is 1. A metallic baseor support for chair standards, consisting of an inclined bracketprovided at its lower portion, with apertured flanges whereby said basemay be secured to a floor or the like, flanges projecting laterally fromeach side of the body-portion of the bracket and adapted to partially inclose a chair standard on each side thereof, an elongated slot formedin the body-portion of the bracket, a right angled foot rail bracketformed integral with the rear portion of said base and an aperture inone wall of said angular bracket, substantially as and for the purposedescribed.

2. In a chair or settee, the combination with the metallic base bracketsprovided with laterally projecting flanges on each side thereof, astandard secured to each side of said brackets and partially inclosed bythe flanges, a seat pivotally connected to the standards by means ofbrackets B, provided with parallel lips 0 adapted to support the rearportion of the seat, a downwardly extending lug G, on each bracket, abrace I, pivoted to the chair standard and adapted to support theforward portion of the seat, a rod H, connecting said lug and standard,an arm bracket loosely journaled between each pair of standards, and anarm rest secured to said arm brackets, substantially as described.

3. In a chair seat, the combination with the slats S, havingperforations passing transversely therethrough -a wire 1 passing throughsaid perforations, and springclips U located between each of said slatsand held in place by the wire, the ends of said clips being bentlaterally and located upon the under sides of the slats, as and for thepurpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ELDRIDGE J. SMITH.

\Vituesses:

CHAS. W. BLACKWOOD, UP'ION B. EDMONSTON.

